AntonBlast

Developer: Summitsphere
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
Buy it from: Steam
Release Date: November 12, 2024

What made AntonBlast such a thrilling little experience was that it felt equal parts like a high-energy ‘90s Nickelodeon cartoon and an early 2D PS1-era platformer riding high on the enhanced tech of the 32-bit console. Inspired directly by the Crash Bandicoot and Wario Land games, AntonBlast has you play as a pair of chaotic bruisers that plow through environments and baddies with reckless abandon. Similar to Pizza Tower, the aim is to tear through levels as fast as possible while causing destruction to the levels and enemies in equal fashion—and in some cases, your wrecking journey will even take you into the backgrounds of levels to break stuff in the distance. Once I got into the groove of its high-octane platforming pace, I found AntonBlast to be a fun throwback, filled to the brim with raucous energy that I couldn’t help but admire.